Operation Rolling Thunder targets those with open warrants in Onondaga County

Chief Frank Fowler (left), Sheriff Kevin Walsh, Lt. Joe Ciciarelli and Sgt. John Savage speak at news conference today at the Public Safety Building on a warrants sweep.

Syracuse, NY -- Police officers, looking for what Chief Frank Fowler called the “worst of the worst,” found Michael Perry June 13 in the 2500 block of Midland Avenue.

Perry, 43, had an outstanding warrant citing him with assault and unlawful imprisonment, both felonies, and menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors. In late May, Perry was accused of threatening his girlfriend with a razor, holding her against her will in a vehicle and punching her in the face, Sgt. John Savage, of the Syracuse police warrants squad.

But what made him a target was his criminal history: 34 arrests, including 17 prior felonies, stretching back to 1986, Savage said.

Perry was one of 150 people arrested during the week-long Operation Rolling Thunder, which Fowler said today targeted people with outstanding warrants and a history of prior felony and misdemeanor arrests. The task force for the warrant operation numbered 50 officers, from the Syracuse police, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, state police, U.S. Marshal Service and state parole.

“We know a small percentage of the population creates most of the crime,” Fowler said in explaining why the task force targeted those with prior arrests. “Get them off the streets and the crime statistics go down.”

The 150 people were arrested on a total of 235 charges, including 37 felonies during the week-long campaign that began June 13. Of those, 122 people were arrested on warrants and 28 people were arrested by task force members who witnessed crimes in progress, Fowler said.

Lt. Joe Ciciarelli, of the marshal’s office, said a lot of work goes into tracking down people with warrants, including “searching home after home after home.”

During a normal week, the city warrants squad averages 25 to 30 arrests a week, Savage said. No overtime was used during the week-long sweep, Fowler said.